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Too Long in the Wasteland Too Long in the Wasteland is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money. For high signal quality in computers and such it makes
sense.


http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Machine-gold-p...QQcmdZViewItem

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Peter Wieck Peter Wieck is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


Too Long in the Wasteland wrote:
Gold plugs and sockets ...


Gold plugs & sockets came into being for legitimate purposes as they
are both (relatively) heat-resistant and very corrosion resistant.
However, gold is not as good a conductor as either copper or silver on
an absolute scale.

So, if you are in a corrosive atmosphere, if the connections are blind
and/or very difficult to access, or any of several other legitimate
reasons, 'go for the gold'. Otherwise, not necessary.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

gold is the most oxygen resistant plating
available and is indispensable for audio
plug usage. there is nothing better.
silver is a better conductor and like copper
it oxidizes very rapidly.
silver tuns black when exposed to light and in
that blackened condition is a terrible conductor
copper turns dark red, brown and green when exposed
to oxygen and humidity, salt air.
so whoever said gold plated plugs were a waste is
a bone head
PS the best corrosion and oxidization prevention
is called: Pro Gold, there is nothing better.
Its made by CAIG chemicals

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Phil Allison Phil Allison is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


"Too Long in the Wasteland"


Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money.



** Asinine twaddle.

Gold plating is indispensable for any high reliability signal connector -
especially where the connection has to be is left untouched for long
periods .


For high signal quality in computers and such it makes sense.



** ROTFL.

Lotsa delicate, analogue millivolt level signals inside PCs - right.




........ Phil


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Arny Krueger Arny Krueger is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

"Too Long in the Wasteland"
wrote in message

Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of
gold and some sucker's money. For high signal quality in
computers and such it makes sense.


Gold is OK for applications where there is modest activity, and a harsh
environment.

It's not good for connectors that are mated and unmated a lot.

For cost reasons, the use of gold is minimized in careful designs.




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Ned Carlson Ned Carlson is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

Too Long in the Wasteland wrote:

Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money. For high signal quality in computers and such it makes
sense.


Nothing wrong with the stuff, it is corrosion resistant, and
as you note, many computer connectors use it. I think rhodium
is probably better, but apparently it's harder to plate
connectors with rhodium thsan gold, and most folks never heard
of rhodium.



--
Ned Carlson
SW side of Chicago, USA
www.tubezone.net
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Phil Allison Phil Allison is offline
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"Ned Carlson"


Nothing wrong with the stuff, it is corrosion resistant, and
as you note, many computer connectors use it. I think rhodium
is probably better, but apparently it's harder to plate
connectors with rhodium thsan gold, and most folks never heard
of rhodium.



** Rhodium makes a good switch contact material but is not comparable with
gold as a long term connector material.

Rhodium is simply too hard to flow under light pressure and make intimate
metal to metal contact like soft gold does.



......... Phil





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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

Too Long in the Wasteland wrote in
message ...

Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money. For high signal quality in computers and such it makes
sense.



http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Machine-gold-p...ket-El34-6550_
W0QQitemZ250066339663QQihZ015QQcategoryZ73375QQssP ageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZVi
ewItem

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Some other musts for hi-fi nuts
http://sound.westhost.com/satcure/scam.htm

I've found too many problems with au-plated phono/rca.
Solid outer barrels , no axial cuts, so they almost weld themselves to the
socket outers. Use with monster thick cable and there is nothing much to
hold the cable sheathing so breaks/shorts etc

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/


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Stephen Cowell Stephen Cowell is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


"RonSonic" wrote in message
...

....

The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode, neither does the
more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually see
on
jacks and plugs. The advantage of gold disappears in a world where the
plug
needs to be cleaned occasionally anyway, like when used for guitar cables
and
getting dragged across the floor.


Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable (bought in a fit of indulgence, expensive)
while it works fine has little plating left on it... thankfully
there was nickel under the gold, perhaps the best way
to do it. Anyone else here ever rubbed the gold off of
a pickup cover? That's another big problem, gold plating
is always as thin as they can get away with.
__
Steve
..




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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?



Stephen Cowell wrote:

"RonSonic" wrote in message

The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode, neither does the
more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually see
on
jacks and plugs. The advantage of gold disappears in a world where the
plug
needs to be cleaned occasionally anyway, like when used for guitar cables
and
getting dragged across the floor.


Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable (bought in a fit of indulgence, expensive)
while it works fine has little plating left on it... thankfully
there was nickel under the gold, perhaps the best way
to do it. Anyone else here ever rubbed the gold off of
a pickup cover? That's another big problem, gold plating
is always as thin as they can get away with.


Those who get really good mileage out of cables also discover there's brass
under the nickel too !

Graham

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Dr. Bizarro Dr. Bizarro is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


"Stephen Cowell" wrote in message
. net...

"RonSonic" wrote in message
...

...

The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode, neither does the
more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually
see on
jacks and plugs. The advantage of gold disappears in a world where the
plug
needs to be cleaned occasionally anyway, like when used for guitar cables
and
getting dragged across the floor.


Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable (bought in a fit of indulgence, expensive)
while it works fine has little plating left on it... thankfully
there was nickel under the gold, perhaps the best way
to do it. Anyone else here ever rubbed the gold off of
a pickup cover? That's another big problem, gold plating
is always as thin as they can get away with.
__
Steve
.


The gold plating on the bridge of my P bass lasted about 2 months.

As with the guitar cables, I think they are in & out so often that the
plugs don't really get a chance to corrode. Though I know the socket
on mine does if its left for more than a week or two.

Dr. Bizarro..


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Patrick Turner Patrick Turner is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?



Stephen Cowell wrote:

"RonSonic" wrote in message
...

...

The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode, neither does the
more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually see
on
jacks and plugs. The advantage of gold disappears in a world where the
plug
needs to be cleaned occasionally anyway, like when used for guitar cables
and
getting dragged across the floor.


Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable (bought in a fit of indulgence, expensive)
while it works fine has little plating left on it... thankfully
there was nickel under the gold, perhaps the best way
to do it. Anyone else here ever rubbed the gold off of
a pickup cover? That's another big problem, gold plating
is always as thin as they can get away with.
__
Steve
.


The gold plating on many asian made cables and contacts is lousy
and thin; asians really hate giving gold away.

But its better than nothing, but the main thing about reliable
connectons is the tightness of the
connection and some RCA sockets made in asia are dodgy because the
internal pin gripper
that is supposed to grip the plug pin is a loose fit and the only
reason why a contact is made is the eccentricity of the plug, ie, slight
out of centering makes the pin touch the socket centre.
I have had asian made good looking gold sockets become intermittent,
and the only quick cure was to force an awl into the socket to deform
the gripper a bit.

Some RCA sockets have a pin gripper with a spring around the internal
gripper; I think
VTL use such a reliable set up for RCA which they make themselves for
their amps
and which are quite expensive to buy compared to Neutrik or Canare
connectors, both of which are better than
the Taiwan asian generics sold at the lowest price possible for such
things.

Nickel connections are OK if kept tight, but loose connections are a
problem.
Many guitar amp people have trouble with 6mm plugs and sockets, often
because
of the slight variations in dimension tolerances and loose fits, and
awful spring/contact quality
in switching sockets originating from Taiwan.
Gold does little to improove an intermittent connection due to
looseness.

Some say gold spoils the sound, and silver sounds better, and you get a
varied opinion
depending who you ask, so I don't ask, and I wait until told what to use
by a customer.

Patrick Turner.
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

Stephen Cowell wrote:


Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable


Aha ! maybe Vai no longer plugs his guitar in BY HIMSELF ...
his roadies do it ... and he has no ****ING idea that it's a piece of
**** ... but my skeptical place of thinking is he could give
a royal crap and cashed the royalty check anyhow.

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Too Long in the Wasteland wrote:


Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money. For high signal quality in computers and such it makes
sense.


Aside from looking pretty, the only place where gold would help is where
the connecting conductive surfaces touch. Gold on the outer shell of a
male RCA connector is pointless.


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Phil Allison Phil Allison is offline
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"RonSonic"

gold is the most oxygen resistant plating
available and is indispensable for audio
plug usage. there is nothing better.
silver is a better conductor and like copper
it oxidizes very rapidly.
silver tuns black when exposed to light and in
that blackened condition is a terrible conductor



Silver oxide is actually a very good conductor,



** But is in fact * NOT * found as a coating on silver at room temp.

The familiar black tarnish on silver is * silver sulphate * - and that is
a good insulator at low voltages.

Ron is spreading one of the silliest usenet myths, derived from a connector
web site & written by an utter ****wit.


which is why silver is so often used on connectors.



* Silver plated connectors are in fact rare. Only used where the mating
pressure is huge and hence air is excluded - ie screw threaded types.

Silver IS used an alloy or a plating on other metals for switch contacts -
a totally different ball game.



The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode,



** WRONG - gold plating has one very important advantage as a connecting
material.

It is so soft it flows and tends to cold weld to itself under light to
moderate pressure.

Combined with its immunity to corrosion, this makes it second only to
soldering an electrical connection.



neither does the more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually see
on
jacks and plugs.



** Nickel plated connectors are only suitable for high insertion & removal
situations.

Nickel is very hard, does not flow or cold weld and develops a surface
tarnish that insulates at low voltage if not cleaned off by surface
abrasion.



....... Phil


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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

Stephen Cowell wrote:

Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable (bought in a fit of indulgence, expensive)
while it works fine has little plating left on it... thankfully
there was nickel under the gold, perhaps the best way
to do it. Anyone else here ever rubbed the gold off of
a pickup cover? That's another big problem, gold plating
is always as thin as they can get away with.


The only place it makes any sense at all to me
is on something like a speaker jack on a combo
if you really expect the speaker to stay plugged in.
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On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 13:28:39 +1100, "Phil Allison"
wrote:


"Too Long in the Wasteland"


Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money.



** Asinine twaddle.

Gold plating is indispensable for any high reliability signal connector -
especially where the connection has to be is left untouched for long
periods .


Phil - when I worked in 2-way radio, most of the connectors were silver plated.

I noticed that they also turned black... the outside shells...

Were the connections good because the parts inside that were touching didn't
corrode?

I wonder if they would become bad if one were to manipulate them every day, and
expose them to ox...

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Phil Allison Phil Allison is offline
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Phil - when I worked in 2-way radio, most of the connectors were silver
plated.



** The RF ones, eg PL529 plugs and the like.

The high conductivity of silver reduces RF energy loss.


I noticed that they also turned black... the outside shells...



** Yep - * silver sulphide * tarnish.

Same on all silver objects, eg silverware, cutlery etc.


Were the connections good because the parts inside that were touching
didn't
corrode?



** Where the mating surfaces are screw threads, there is enough pressure to
exclude air and hence sulphiding does not affect the actual contact areas.



I wonder if they would become bad if one were to manipulate them every
day, and
expose them to ox...



** If you leave a silver plated RF plug lying about for years, then plug it
into a silver plated socket that has not been used for years - there is
often no connection at all.

But just as with silverware, the tarnish is not too hard to remove by a
variety of means.

Do a Google search for the methods.




........ Phil





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On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:57:49 +1100, "Phil Allison"
wrote:


"RonSonic"

gold is the most oxygen resistant plating
available and is indispensable for audio
plug usage. there is nothing better.
silver is a better conductor and like copper
it oxidizes very rapidly.
silver tuns black when exposed to light and in
that blackened condition is a terrible conductor



Silver oxide is actually a very good conductor,



** But is in fact * NOT * found as a coating on silver at room temp.

The familiar black tarnish on silver is * silver sulphate * - and that is
a good insulator at low voltages.

Ron is spreading one of the silliest usenet myths, derived from a connector
web site & written by an utter ****wit.


which is why silver is so often used on connectors.



* Silver plated connectors are in fact rare. Only used where the mating
pressure is huge and hence air is excluded - ie screw threaded types.

Silver IS used an alloy or a plating on other metals for switch contacts -
a totally different ball game.


Okay, Phil, silver ****ing alloy.

Better now?


The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode,



** WRONG - gold plating has one very important advantage as a connecting
material.

It is so soft it flows and tends to cold weld to itself under light to
moderate pressure.

Combined with its immunity to corrosion, this makes it second only to
soldering an electrical connection.


At the thicknesses we're seeing on audio connectors, this is meaningless. At the
pressures involved, it's downright silly.

neither does the more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually see
on
jacks and plugs.



** Nickel plated connectors are only suitable for high insertion & removal
situations.


We are talking about jacks and plugs for electric guitars. They get unplugged
and replugged daily.

Nickel is very hard, does not flow or cold weld and develops a surface
tarnish that insulates at low voltage if not cleaned off by surface
abrasion.


Tarnish isn't an issue in our application, dirt and wear are the problems.

You really should look more carefully at what is being discussed before spouting
off with insults and bad attitude.

Ron


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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


"RonSonic"

gold is the most oxygen resistant plating
available and is indispensable for audio
plug usage. there is nothing better.
silver is a better conductor and like copper
it oxidizes very rapidly.
silver tuns black when exposed to light and in
that blackened condition is a terrible conductor


Silver oxide is actually a very good conductor,



** But is in fact * NOT * found as a coating on silver at room temp.

The familiar black tarnish on silver is * silver sulphate * - and that
is
a good insulator at low voltages.

Ron is spreading one of the silliest usenet myths, derived from a
connector
web site & written by an utter ****wit.



** Lack of reply noted !!!!

---------------------------

Now watch this cretin try squirm out of it ......




which is why silver is so often used on connectors.


** Silver plated connectors are in fact rare. Only used where the mating
pressure is huge and hence air is excluded - ie screw threaded types.

Silver IS used an alloy or a plating on other metals for switch contacts -
a totally different ball game.


Okay, Phil, silver ****ing alloy.

Better now?



** You are waaaay out of line again - asshole !

Switches and relay contacts are an * whole separate ball game * to
connectors.




The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode,



** WRONG - gold plating has one very important advantage as a connecting
material.

It is so soft it flows and tends to cold weld to itself under light to
moderate pressure.

Combined with its immunity to corrosion, this makes it second only to
soldering an electrical connection.



At the thicknesses we're seeing on audio connectors, this is meaningless.
At the
pressures involved, it's downright silly.



** That is ** absolute garbage** !!!

The thinnest layer of gold behaves exactly this way.

That * IS * why it is used throughout professional electronics to plate low
usage connectors where small signals are involved.


neither does the more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually
see
on jacks and plugs.



** Nickel plated connectors are only suitable for high insertion &
removal
situations.


Nickel is very hard, does not flow or cold weld and develops a surface
tarnish that insulates at low voltage if not cleaned off by surface
abrasion.



Tarnish isn't an issue in our application,



** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish.

Try reading you own damn post - asshole.



You really should look more carefully at what is being discussed before
spouting
off with insults and bad attitude.



** YOU posted absolute ******** - Ron.

Then you post brainless abuse when I point simple facts out.

What is your next trick next gonna be ?

Holding your breath till you face goes blue ???




......... Phil




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Andre Jute Andre Jute is offline
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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

American plating is the shoddiest in the world. Every European and
Australian hotrodder who ever bought a plated part from the States --
and at very attractive prices too! -- knows that on receipt it has to
be stripped and replated by a proper plater. What happens is that the
Americans routinely forego the necessary underplates, of which chrome
should have at least two, otherwise nothing will stick. For really good
quality chrome, each underlayer has to be polished as if it were the
top layer.

What nobody has said yet about audio connectors is that they too are
not plated directly with gold, or at least shouldn't be. Even a couple
of microns won't stick to brass or tellurium copper for long. Whatever
the material is, there should be underlayers of copper, silver or
sometimes rhodium or nickel, then gold. What costs is not the amount of
gold, though I don't suppose it is cheap making a huge batch of
five-way connectors in decently gold plating, but the labour and
preparation of multi-plating.

I used to like my speaker connections to be bare copper to bare copper.
But it gets to be a pain cleaning the connectors. Now I use Cardas gold
connectors like everyone else. They stay clean and they make a super
connection. I no longer even bother to file the flats on the Cardas
spades down to the tellurium.

One of the connector-designers, maybe George Cardas, maybe that chappie
who lathed the super binding posts the rocknrollers down the coast here
introduced me to, once gave me an earful on the superiority of Rhodium
as connector-finish. But it's apparently a bitch to work with and --
here's the punchline -- he found it so hard to sell Rhodium on its
merits, he plated it over with gold!!

HTH.

Andre Jute
Visit Jute on Amps at http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/
"wonderfully well written and reasoned information
for the tube audio constructor"
John Broskie TubeCAD & GlassWare
"an unbelievably comprehensive web site
containing vital gems of wisdom"
Stuart Perry Hi-Fi News & Record Review

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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?



robert casey wrote:

Too Long in the Wasteland wrote:

Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money. For high signal quality in computers and such it makes
sense.


LOL !


Aside from looking pretty, the only place where gold would help is where
the connecting conductive surfaces touch. Gold on the outer shell of a
male RCA connector is pointless.


It looks pretty though !

Graham


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Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable (bought in a fit of indulgence, expensive)
while it works fine has little plating left on it... thankfully
there was nickel under the gold, perhaps the best way
to do it. Anyone else here ever rubbed the gold off of
a pickup cover? That's another big problem, gold plating
is always as thin as they can get away with.
__
Steve
.

you bought an overpriced cord with a ****ty plating job.

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Tony Hwang Tony Hwang is offline
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Too Long in the Wasteland wrote:

Gold plugs and sockets ...

I really think for any audio application it's a waste of gold and some
sucker's money. For high signal quality in computers and such it makes
sense.


http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Machine-gold-p...QQcmdZViewItem


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Hi,
You're right. Also gold makes near perfect surface contact. It's
interesting to see this under microscope. I spent my working life on
mil-spec. RF communication and digital systems. Gold does not
tarnish; stands upto harsh environment as well.
Happy new year.
Tony


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Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


wrote in message
oups.com...


Those of us that own guitar cords with gold-plated
ends can testify that it doesn't last long... my Steve Vai
Signature cable (bought in a fit of indulgence, expensive)
while it works fine has little plating left on it... thankfully
there was nickel under the gold, perhaps the best way
to do it. Anyone else here ever rubbed the gold off of
a pickup cover? That's another big problem, gold plating
is always as thin as they can get away with.
__
Steve
.

you bought an overpriced cord with a ****ty plating job.


Can you name one with a 'non-****ty' plating job?
The point is, gold plating on phone plugs doesn't last.
__
Steve
..


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RonSonic RonSonic is offline
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Posts: 5
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:32:10 +1100, "Phil Allison"
wrote:


"RonSonic"

gold is the most oxygen resistant plating
available and is indispensable for audio
plug usage. there is nothing better.
silver is a better conductor and like copper
it oxidizes very rapidly.
silver tuns black when exposed to light and in
that blackened condition is a terrible conductor


Silver oxide is actually a very good conductor,


** But is in fact * NOT * found as a coating on silver at room temp.

The familiar black tarnish on silver is * silver sulphate * - and that
is
a good insulator at low voltages.

Ron is spreading one of the silliest usenet myths, derived from a
connector
web site & written by an utter ****wit.



** Lack of reply noted !!!!

---------------------------

Now watch this cretin try squirm out of it ......


You have got not credibility here. Your manifest ill will and belligerence make
it clear that regardless of what you do or do not know you will sling insults
and try to "win" rather than offer information.

which is why silver is so often used on connectors.


** Silver plated connectors are in fact rare. Only used where the mating
pressure is huge and hence air is excluded - ie screw threaded types.


Silver plating is found on a wide range of military and industrial connectors. I
really have no idea what you were talking about when you accused me of passing
on info from a "connector website" I know what I see on equipment and components
that I buy and use. I know that my boat anchors are silver in, out and through.
Those guys didn't spec according to a "connector website" whatever the hell that
is.

The guys I am aware of who deal in fancy, high-priced audio stuff simply do not
use silver plating. They're all gold and rhodium and the like.

Silver IS used an alloy or a plating on other metals for switch contacts -
a totally different ball game.


Okay, Phil, silver ****ing alloy.

Better now?



** You are waaaay out of line again - asshole !

Switches and relay contacts are an * whole separate ball game * to
connectors.


And all of those have used silver for the last 80 years or so.

The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode,


** WRONG - gold plating has one very important advantage as a connecting
material.

It is so soft it flows and tends to cold weld to itself under light to
moderate pressure.

Combined with its immunity to corrosion, this makes it second only to
soldering an electrical connection.



At the thicknesses we're seeing on audio connectors, this is meaningless.
At the
pressures involved, it's downright silly.



** That is ** absolute garbage** !!!

The thinnest layer of gold behaves exactly this way.


It "FLOWS" in a 1/4" phone jack???? If you are using "flow" as a synonym for
"gets scraped off" then maybe you'd be right. True, those are related phenomena
but not really the same as far as actually getting a reliable connection to your
guitar amp.

That * IS * why it is used throughout professional electronics to plate low
usage connectors where small signals are involved.


We aren't talking about "low usage connectors" we're talking about guitar amps.
Where the low usage connectors are the large current ones and the small signal
connectors get high usage.

neither does the more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually
see
on jacks and plugs.


** Nickel plated connectors are only suitable for high insertion &
removal
situations.


Nickel is very hard, does not flow or cold weld and develops a surface
tarnish that insulates at low voltage if not cleaned off by surface
abrasion.



Tarnish isn't an issue in our application,



** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish.

Try reading you own damn post - asshole.


In actual use tarnish on nickel is not an issue. Tarnish isn't much of an issue
when you're plugging and unplugging often.

You really should look more carefully at what is being discussed before
spouting
off with insults and bad attitude.



** YOU posted absolute ******** - Ron.


If I am ignorant or mistaken, I can correct that with some research. But
whatever is wrong with you isn't nearly so remediable.

Ron

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OLDFART OLDFART is offline
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Posts: 3
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


"GOLD" is used to make a $5 product sell for $40..

In the real world of Musical Instrument reality,
you must LEAVE the cord in ALL the time to MATCH
the reason WHY gold is adored in the PC/Mil spec world.

ONCE it gets there, it stays there..

Speaker connections that are NOT changed can do
well, even parts with leads 'gold tipped' that are
NOT 'adjusted'. Tubes CAN do well, but not if you
are trying every stupid mod/part# that U think U know.

My brother races ..NE Dragway. Speed cost $$..How much U got..

I got gold plated sockets, a simple thingie to gold 'tin' any
lead I care to do, and never found a reason to do so other then
just add sparkle, or sell MoJo bull**** cause the person wanted it.

In Meridian, I spent time laughing at a guy, who wrote an A.E.S.
published report on how a certain type of green pen marking the
outside of a CD improved quality of sound "..76%.." hehehehe

I laughed then, and some where still have the A.E.S. sheet, but many
years later, it was found to be true..for that moment in time..cause I
had been there up North..just never met the guy or this much MoJo on it.

See, CD players back then SUCKED. NOW, ya get a DVD reader that reads
CDs. THEN, there was no mass marketed DVD, save in no longer used formats.

For a long time, Sony and others made red or green rings around the edges
of legal CDs. WHY..? Cause ****ty old CD players we all owned back then
just sucked, got dirty, and could not read the disc. I was told they
saw this ring, then went 'in' . I don't have any old CD players around
(or the care to do) to test this, but I know one fact cause I got a cut..

LONG before I was in Mississippi, or knew of it all..

A bunch of us went to a local store (Spag's) and bought 25k of green
'Script' markers, then applied 'our' stickers over the label, placed them in
$2 wooden boxes (which we oil rubbed for effect) and sold them for $49.95

...do the math...

LATER in life, I met more then one person who had used the wooden
boxes for "..stash.." boxes, and many kept the pens. They had a pile of
CDs..many old ones with the green (badly applied) artwork.. HA HA HA

Pen cost $1...Box and all packaging, maybe $5. $35 wholesale.

Tower on Newbury st bought every one we made..cash... Good times..

So, I got ya gold plated, cheap battery, MoJo ******ed Icon right here..


JJTj












Pretty soon now
Y'know I'm gonna make a comeback

And like the birds and the bees in the trees
It's a sure-fire sign smash..

I'll speak .....To the masses through out the media
And if you got anything to say to me
You can say it with cash

'Cause I got the trash and you got the cash
So baby we should get along fine
So give me all your money 'cause I know you think I'm funny
Can't you hear me laughing.....Can't you see me smile

I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the hula-hoop
I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the yo-yo

Kung fu

That was one of my good ones...
Well what's a few broken bones
When we all know it's good clean fun

Skateboards

I've almost made them respectable...
You see I can't always get through to you
......So I go for your son.....
I had a giant rubber shark and it really made a mark
Didja looka looka lookit alla dat blood

Give me all your money 'cause I know you think I'm funny
Can't you hear me laughing.....Can't you see me smile

I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the hula-hoop
I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the yo-yo

Right now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I'm gonna plan a *N-E-W* trend
Because the line on the graph's getting low
And we all know we can't have that
And you think you're immune.....But I can sell you anything
Anything from a thin safety pin..To a pork pie hat
'Cause I got the trash and you got the cash
So baby we should get along fine
So give me all your money 'cause I know you think I'm funny
Can't you hear me laughing.....Can't you see me smile

I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man
I'm the man that gave you the hula-hoop
I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man I'm the man
I'm the man that got you playing with the yo-yo

  #29   Report Post  
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Phil Allison Phil Allison is offline
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Posts: 1,444
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


"RonSonic"


Silver oxide is actually a very good conductor,


** But is in fact * NOT * found as a coating on silver at room temp.

The familiar black tarnish on silver is * silver sulphate * - and
that
is
a good insulator at low voltages.

Ron is spreading one of the silliest usenet myths, derived from a
connector
web site & written by an utter ****wit.



** Lack of reply noted !!!!

---------------------------

Now watch this cretin try squirm out of it ......


You have got not credibility here. Your manifest ill will and belligerence
make
it clear that regardless of what you do or do not know you will sling
insults
and try to "win" rather than offer information.



** What did I tell ya ? ??

Nothing but " ad hominem " attacks and red herrings.

Ron the Nong is not even reading what I wrote.





which is why silver is so often used on connectors.


** Silver plated connectors are in fact rare. Only used where the
mating
pressure is huge and hence air is excluded - ie screw threaded types.


Silver plating is found on a wide range of military and industrial
connectors.



** Where screw thread connectors are widely used.


I really have no idea what you were talking about when you accused me of
passing on info from a "connector website"



** The asinine myth about " silver oxide " is straight from a web site
selling connectors.

Go look up " silver sulphate tarnish " on Google.

It is black and it insulates.




** That is ** absolute garbage** !!!

The thinnest layer of gold behaves exactly this way.


It "FLOWS" in a 1/4" phone jack?



** Yes.


That * IS * why it is used throughout professional electronics to plate
low
usage connectors where small signals are involved.


We aren't talking about "low usage connectors" we're talking about guitar
amps.



** The topic is gold plated connectors, why gold is used.

It is really pathetic you trying to change the topic.




** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish.

Try reading you own damn post - asshole.


In actual use tarnish on nickel is not an issue. Tarnish isn't much of an
issue
when you're plugging and unplugging often.


** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish !!!

Try reading you own damn post - asshole !!!!

Try learning to read - at all.



YOU posted absolute ******** - Ron.

Then you post brainless abuse when I point simple facts out.

What is your next trick next gonna be ?

Holding your breath till you face goes blue ???




If I am ignorant or mistaken,



** At last a glimmer of hope that the colossally arrogant fool may see
some of his errors.

Bet he never admits any of them.




...... Phil





  #30   Report Post  
Posted to rec.audio.tubes
[email protected] Fred@nonono.com is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 5
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:22:23 +1100, "Phil Allison"
wrote:






Phil - when I worked in 2-way radio, most of the connectors were silver
plated.



** The RF ones, eg PL529 plugs and the like.

The high conductivity of silver reduces RF energy loss.


I noticed that they also turned black... the outside shells...



** Yep - * silver sulphide * tarnish.

Same on all silver objects, eg silverware, cutlery etc.


Were the connections good because the parts inside that were touching
didn't
corrode?



** Where the mating surfaces are screw threads, there is enough pressure to
exclude air and hence sulphiding does not affect the actual contact areas.



I wonder if they would become bad if one were to manipulate them every
day, and
expose them to ox...



** If you leave a silver plated RF plug lying about for years, then plug it
into a silver plated socket that has not been used for years - there is
often no connection at all.


ah I see... thats logical!

But just as with silverware, the tarnish is not too hard to remove by a
variety of means.

Do a Google search for the methods.




....... Phil


Thanks



  #31   Report Post  
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[email protected] cclawsonco@gmail.com is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

BUT, if you clean the gold with WD40...
Chuck

  #32   Report Post  
Posted to rec.audio.tubes,alt.guitar.amps
Harrison Ford Prefect Harrison Ford Prefect is offline
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Posts: 6
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

RonSonic wrote:
....
You really should look more carefully at what is being discussed before spouting
off with insults and bad attitude.


Ya gotta go with what ya got.
  #33   Report Post  
Posted to rec.audio.tubes,alt.guitar.amps
Harrison Ford Prefect Harrison Ford Prefect is offline
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Posts: 6
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

wrote:
BUT, if you clean the gold with WD40...

And use the magic green marker on the tip (and
ONLY the tip) connector)...
  #34   Report Post  
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Geoff C Geoff C is offline
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Posts: 2
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


One of the connector-designers, maybe George Cardas, maybe that chappie
who lathed the super binding posts the rocknrollers down the coast here
introduced me to, once gave me an earful on the superiority of Rhodium
as connector-finish. But it's apparently a bitch to work with and --
here's the punchline -- he found it so hard to sell Rhodium on its
merits, he plated it over with gold!!

HTH.

Andre Jute


I'd like to know more about Rh plating, for a problem at work. We use Rh
"flash" but it is very thin and basically a jewellery process. I would like
to know if there is a process to get up to tens of microns over
copper/nickel. Finding it hard to stop the copper eventually coming
through, at temps up to 700 deg C cycles. A supplier in Australia is
required. I imagine those that make switchgear contactors might know the
technology.
  #35   Report Post  
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Stephen Cowell Stephen Cowell is offline
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Posts: 19
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


"Geoff C" wrote in message
...

....

I'd like to know more about Rh plating, for a problem at work. We use Rh
"flash" but it is very thin and basically a jewellery process. I would
like
to know if there is a process to get up to tens of microns over
copper/nickel. Finding it hard to stop the copper eventually coming
through, at temps up to 700 deg C cycles. A supplier in Australia is
required. I imagine those that make switchgear contactors might know the
technology.


What about sputtering? I'm guessing the substrate is not flat....
electrostatic deposition? No, wait! Here's what you need!

http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/56...scription.html

Laser ablation forward metal deposition with electrostatic assisted bonding!
__
Steve
..




  #36   Report Post  
Posted to rec.audio.tubes,alt.guitar.amps
RonSonic RonSonic is offline
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Posts: 5
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

On Sat, 30 Dec 2006 11:20:12 +1100, "Phil Allison"
wrote:


That * IS * why it is used throughout professional electronics to plate
low
usage connectors where small signals are involved.


We aren't talking about "low usage connectors" we're talking about guitar
amps.



** The topic is gold plated connectors, why gold is used.

It is really pathetic you trying to change the topic.


The topic is guitar amps.

Look at the header.

Stop trying to turn it into a ****ing contest. That isn't the topic.

** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish.

Try reading you own damn post - asshole.


In actual use tarnish on nickel is not an issue. Tarnish isn't much of an
issue
when you're plugging and unplugging often.


** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish !!!

Try reading you own damn post - asshole !!!!


In practical application tarnish on nickel is not an issue.

Yes, you'll find it on abandoned and abused gear, stuff that's been left in a
shed or some such. But that isn't a question of practical application.

YOU posted absolute ******** - Ron.

Then you post brainless abuse when I point simple facts out.

What is your next trick next gonna be ?

Holding your breath till you face goes blue ???


You already tried that one and I didn't bite.

If I am ignorant or mistaken,



** At last a glimmer of hope that the colossally arrogant fool may see
some of his errors.

Bet he never admits any of them.


Admit what? That gold plating is short-lived and pointless on guitar cords?
Admit that we rarely or never have a problem with nickel plated connectors
tarnishing? Admit that the connectors on my old mil-spec equipment doesn't have
silver plated contacts? What am I supposed to "admit?"

Ron

  #37   Report Post  
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RonSonic RonSonic is offline
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Posts: 5
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

On Sat, 30 Dec 2006 04:28:20 GMT, Harrison Ford Prefect wrote:

RonSonic wrote:
...
You really should look more carefully at what is being discussed before spouting
off with insults and bad attitude.


Ya gotta go with what ya got.


So it seems.

So much for the "reply to all newsgroups" option.

Ron
  #38   Report Post  
Posted to rec.audio.tubes,alt.guitar.amps
Phil Allison Phil Allison is offline
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Posts: 1,444
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

"RonSonic"


Silver oxide is actually a very good conductor,


** But is in fact * NOT * found as a coating on silver at room temp.

The familiar black tarnish on silver is * silver sulphate * - and
that
is
a good insulator at low voltages.

Ron is spreading one of the silliest usenet myths, derived from a
connector
web site & written by an utter ****wit.



** Lack of reply noted !!!!

---------------------------

Now watch this cretin try squirm out of it ......


You have got not credibility here. Your manifest ill will and belligerence
make
it clear that regardless of what you do or do not know you will sling
insults
and try to "win" rather than offer information.



** What did I tell ya ? ??

Nothing but " ad hominem " attacks and red herrings.

Ron the Nong is not even reading what I wrote.




which is why silver is so often used on connectors.


** Silver plated connectors are in fact rare. Only used where the
mating
pressure is huge and hence air is excluded - ie screw threaded types.


Silver plating is found on a wide range of military and industrial
connectors.



** Where screw thread connectors are widely used.


I really have no idea what you were talking about when you accused me of
passing on info from a "connector website"



** The asinine myth about " silver oxide " is straight from a web site
selling connectors.

Go look up " silver sulphate tarnish " on Google.

It is black and it insulates.




** That is ** absolute garbage** !!!

The thinnest layer of gold behaves exactly this way.


It "FLOWS" in a 1/4" phone jack?



** Yes.


That * IS * why it is used throughout professional electronics to plate
low
usage connectors where small signals are involved.


We aren't talking about "low usage connectors" we're talking about guitar
amps.



** The topic is gold plated connectors, why gold is used.

It is really pathetic you trying to change the topic.




** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish.

Try reading you own damn post - asshole.


In actual use tarnish on nickel is not an issue. Tarnish isn't much of an
issue
when you're plugging and unplugging often.


** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish !!!

Try reading you own damn post - asshole !!!!

Try learning to read - at all.



YOU posted absolute ******** - Ron.

Then you post brainless abuse when I point simple facts out.

What is your next trick next gonna be ?

Holding your breath till you face goes blue ???




If I am ignorant or mistaken,



** At last a glimmer of hope that the colossally arrogant fool may see
some of his errors.

Bet he NEVER admits any of them.

Just snips them out of sight ......

What a loser.





...... Phil






  #39   Report Post  
Posted to rec.audio.tubes,alt.guitar.amps
Pelosi Lied Pelosi Lied is offline
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Posts: 1
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:32:10 +1100, "Phil Allison"
wrote:


"RonSonic"

gold is the most oxygen resistant plating
available and is indispensable for audio
plug usage. there is nothing better.
silver is a better conductor and like copper
it oxidizes very rapidly.
silver tuns black when exposed to light and in
that blackened condition is a terrible conductor


Silver oxide is actually a very good conductor,


** But is in fact * NOT * found as a coating on silver at room temp.

The familiar black tarnish on silver is * silver sulphate * - and that
is
a good insulator at low voltages.

Ron is spreading one of the silliest usenet myths, derived from a
connector
web site & written by an utter ****wit.



** Lack of reply noted !!!!

---------------------------

Now watch this cretin try squirm out of it ......




which is why silver is so often used on connectors.


** Silver plated connectors are in fact rare. Only used where the mating
pressure is huge and hence air is excluded - ie screw threaded types.

Silver IS used an alloy or a plating on other metals for switch contacts -
a totally different ball game.


Okay, Phil, silver ****ing alloy.

Better now?



** You are waaaay out of line again - asshole !

Switches and relay contacts are an * whole separate ball game * to
connectors.




The only advantage of gold is that it doesn't corrode,


** WRONG - gold plating has one very important advantage as a connecting
material.

It is so soft it flows and tends to cold weld to itself under light to
moderate pressure.

Combined with its immunity to corrosion, this makes it second only to
soldering an electrical connection.



At the thicknesses we're seeing on audio connectors, this is meaningless.
At the
pressures involved, it's downright silly.



** That is ** absolute garbage** !!!

The thinnest layer of gold behaves exactly this way.

That * IS * why it is used throughout professional electronics to plate low
usage connectors where small signals are involved.


neither does the more
common, more rugged and much less expensive nickel plating you usually
see
on jacks and plugs.


** Nickel plated connectors are only suitable for high insertion &
removal
situations.


Nickel is very hard, does not flow or cold weld and develops a surface
tarnish that insulates at low voltage if not cleaned off by surface
abrasion.



Tarnish isn't an issue in our application,



** Funny how YOU claimed that nickel does not tarnish.

Try reading you own damn post - asshole.



You really should look more carefully at what is being discussed before
spouting
off with insults and bad attitude.



** YOU posted absolute ******** - Ron.

Then you post brainless abuse when I point simple facts out.

What is your next trick next gonna be ?

Holding your breath till you face goes blue ???




........ Phil





LOL

That's Ronsonic, idiot at large.

Thanks for that.
  #40   Report Post  
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Eric Eric is offline
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Posts: 1
Default Are Gold plugs/sockets a gimmick ?


N Cook wrote:
Too Long in the Wasteland wrote in
message ...
Some other musts for hi-fi nuts
http://sound.westhost.com/satcure/scam.htm


This 'audiophile grade' fuse takes the cake:

http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalog/ac_products.html

To those that spend hundreds of dollars for an IECC power cable, $US 30
on a fuse is nothing.

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